Chapterly update (to the last update)

[anghara]

Chapter 6 done, which brings us to

44,245 / 95,000 (46.6%)

I have a horrible feeling that this book is NOT going to stop at 95 000 words. I've got sixteen chapters planned, I've just done #6, I'm two chapters away from the halfway mark, and I'm pushing 47% - if the next two chapters are of anything like the average length I'll wind up with 50% of the chapters (as currently posited) bearing well in excess of half the words. I may have to revise my length estimate. I'll keep it at 95 000 for now, just to make myself feel like I've done more than I have [grin] but if the chapters remain of similar length to what's been happening so far, then, averaging out, I am now aiming for something more along the line of 118 000.

But we shall see.

Comments

[eneit.livejournal.com]

*gives best granny/wolf grin* all the more for us to read, my dear

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

What happens when you're writing a book under contract, there's a specific length expected, and you overshoot? How far do you have to overshoot before the editor and her colleagues start to care?

[anghara.livejournal.com]

In this instance, it won't be a problem because I'll still be well in the ballpark. It *could* have been a problem for the "Embers of Heaven" book because my inclination is to write lush and they wanted a 120 000 word book in the contract. It turned out closer to 150 000 in the end - and I was being awfully restrained! - and nobody really kvetched very hard... but I don't know what would have happened if I had turned in 200 000. Probably some rather hefty pruning...